By Elaine Lewis and Jillian McCallum – Special to the Sydenham Current
The Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program provides healthy meals and snacks universally to over 50 schools locally.
Over 7,200 students are currently registered in the program. Assisting students to increase their nutrition levels will enable them to make the best possible use of their educational opportunities.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit and the Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program with support from the Ontario Student Nutrition Program – Southwest Region are working together with various other partners to continue the Farm to School Program in Chatham-Kent for a third year.
The partners are very excited about this pilot program which will provide 4,900+ Chatham-Kent students in 21 schools with fruits and vegetables 5 days a week and a second food group item for three days a week for the 10 week time period starting March 30th and will run until June 3rd, 2016.
Fruits and vegetables will be purchased from local farmers and delivered directly to the participating schools where they will be cleaned, prepared and delivered to all students in the school free of charge.
Snacks include two food groups from Canada Food Guide which will meet the ministry guidelines for student nutrition.
Some items will include, dehydrated apple chips as well as mini cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, yellow and red peppers.
We will also be offering an additional food group such as multi-grain cheerios, yogurt, crackers, hard boiled eggs, cheese, bagels, etc.
The 21 local school programs will receive their weekly supply of fruits and vegetables, etc. will be delivered each Monday to their door.
Through this pilot we are encouraging local students to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as to support our local farmers and other Chatham-Kent businesses.
At the end of each year of the pilot program, an evaluation of the program is being completed.
Our hope is to continue to expand the program to eventually include all schools in Chatham-Kent, ideally running throughout the entire school year and also to extend the program to other areas in Ontario.
We are endeavoring to keep the cost per unit competitive. Delivery of the products to each school will also lessen the workload for the community volunteers running the student nutrition program at each school.It is very important to us that this program be sustainable and to support our local farmers and the Chatham-Kent economy.
For further information, please contact Elaine Lewis Chatham-Kent Student Nutrition Program Coordinator at 519-352- 7270 ext. 2444 or Jillian McCallum, Ontario Student Nutrition Program Food and Logistics Coordinator, VON at 519 254- 4866 ext. 6260.
